Toronto Maple Leafs Top Prospect Cut from the team?

After returning from the Leafs training camp, one of the top prospects for the Toronto Maple Leafs was given a top honor by his club. Ben Danford, a first-round pick by the Leafs in 2024, was named captain of the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League, the team officially announced today. Danford spent some time in Toronto before being assigned to Oshawa. Alongside the newly appointed Captain Danford are first-round pick Calum Ritchie of the Colorado Avalanche (2023), third-round pick Luca Marrelli of the Columbus Blue Jackets (2020), undrafted forward Matthew Buckley (2019), and hometown overager Luke Torrance. Danford, 18, was an assistant captain for Oshawa last season at the age of seventeen, and he scored a goal and recorded 33 points in 64 games for the Generals in the 2023–24 OHL season. Danford is a right-handed defenseman with good physical and defensive skills. The Leafs scouting team selected him in the first round of the draft, allocating a significant amount of its selections to bolster the team’s offensive and defensive lines with Danford leading the way. After losing to the London Knights in the OHL finals, the Generals are anticipated to be a competitive team. Danford and Ritchie are back for Oshawa, and it’s expected that Beckett Sennecke, the third overall pick by the Anaheim Ducks, will return from Oshawa following training camp. Sennecke, who made his preseason debut tonight following a foot injury, will make his debut tonight. Oshawa is still actively pursuing Winnipeg Jets forward Colby Barlow at the same moment. Despite rumors that a deal is in place, a person with knowledge of the matter claims that Barlow, who recently returned from Jets training camp, has not signed a deal. Greg Cowan of the Owen Sound Sun Times reports that Barlow has asked to be traded to the OHL Owen Sound Attack. Talks with the Generals have been sparked by picks and young “potential” players from Oshawa and the Barrie Colts, who are thought to be the two front-runners. A source claims that even though no deal has been completed, Oshawa is seen as the front-runner.
After three games, the Generals have a 1-0-1-1 record, good for second place in the OHL Eastern Conference.